The Great American Milk Drive: Father’s Day Edition

Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Milk Life for this promotion. I have received compensation for my participation, but my passion and thirst for Milk is my own.

Gift giving is a difficult thing to do, there is often a struggle of what is appropriate. Often times it seems that what we want to give someone as a gift is mitigated by what we want them to have instead of what they really need. And sometimes we provide gifts out of a sense of obligation – a sense that we need to give something rather than wanting to do it for the good of doing it. Don’t believe me? There are garages, Goodwills, and lawn sales littered with the sense of obligation.

The good news is that the Great American Milk Drive provides an easy way to gift something that people need (nutrition) for as little as a $5 donation. More on that in a minute.

One of the big things that I want to teach my children is the difference between “want” and “need”. There are many things that we want, but there are basics things that we need. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting things, we all want things, but there is an inherent problem when we confuse want and need.

One of those basic things that we need is nutrition. My family is blessed with the opportunity to create a shopping list, pick a store to shop at, procure all of the things on that list – and if we happen to forget something? We have the ability to go back. Some families don’t have the ability to do this; in fact, more families than you realize have to make the difficult decision of what things on the list are more of a priority – or they may not have the money or means to make this list at all.

As my family begins its summer, it is wise to remember that during the summer months more than 22 million children don’t have access to milk’s nutrition since school is closed and they are no longer receiving their free or reduced milk that they qualify for. Some of these children, and their families, receive goods from food banks, but did you know that the banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk PER PERSON per YEAR. Think of all the ways you use milk (to drink, to cook with, in cereal, etc.) and consider how long a gallon would last in your household.

The good news is that while milk is one of the least donated items in food banks, there is now a simple way for you to deliver a gallon of milk to a local family in need through the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks. That’s right, you can now deliver a perishable, nutritious gallon of milk without worry to a family in need.
We know that Milk powers potential through delivering 9 essential nutrients and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounce serving. Want to be a part of the movement? Here’s how:

On June 16, The Great American Milk Drive is challenging America to donate gallons of milk for kids in need in their communities with a major, one-day social media milk drive. America’s milk companies and dairy farmers will make gallons multiply across the country by matching up to $10,000 in donations. You can follow this social media-driven milk drive on Facebook and Twitter with #MilkDrive.

For this Father’s Day, I can’t think of a better gift than a donation to the Great American Milk Drive. That would definitely make my day – knowing we were filling the glasses of others with Milk.

Want to make that donation? Do me a favor, I am part of a team of bloggers – Andrew Bennett out of Massachusetts (@benspark), Victor Aragon out of Chicacgo (@fandads), Adam Gertascov also out of Chicago (@kafclown), and Chris Lewis in the great state of Michigan(@dadofdivas). I, of course, am representing Indianapolis. We are a part of a competition to see which blogger team can raise more money for the Great American Milk Drive. Our unique link for donations is here.